A round up of exciting sandwich news and links from around the web.

• The Great American Smokeout 2009 is today and hopes to help people kick their tobacco habit. The American Cancer Society suggests restaurants and work places to offer “cold turkey sandwiches” to remind people it’s time to quit. [American Cancer Society]

• The excellent With Love Letters series continues, this time featuring James Beard Award-winning chef Marc Vetri. When he’s not at Vetri, Osteria or working on his new concept, the chef enjoys a Geno’s cheesesteak whiz wit’. [Uwishunu]

• Tweeting fiend Tommy Up let it drop last night that his burger joint PYT will begin a burger of the week special. First up: The Thanksgivin’ which features a turkey burger, topped with stuffing, cranberry relish and smothered in gravy, served next Monday through Sunday (they are closed on Thanksgiving day). We’ve heard rumors of a Wagyu beef burger with pickled daikon and wasabi mayo hitting the menu in coming weeks. [Tommy Up/Twitter]

• Royal Tavern’s Beer and Burger Bash was such a hit last night, that an encore production will play out this evening. Grab special burgers and craft beers starting at 5pm. [Uwishunu]

What We’re Eating takes a quick look at sandwiches the Unbreaded team can’t get enough of.

I have one surefire cure for a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, and that, my friends, is the grilled cheese sandwich at the Royal Tavern.

I know what you’re thinking, how special can a grilled cheese sandwich really be? The answer: so special. The Royal grilled cheese combines the perfect blend of smoked gouda, goat cheese, and provolone – presumably added mostly for structural integrity and maximum “stretchiness” – which delights the taste buds. The sandwich is served on a rustic french bread which provides a nice textural contrast to the creaminess of the cheese, and a side of fries with Royal’s malt vinegar mayo rounds out the meal.

Oh, and might I recommend adding a slice of tomato to your sandwich? It’s perfect without it, but it’s, dare I say, magical with it. I’ve heard of someone adding avocado also, which I’m sure is mind blowing. As for bacon, I’m just going to go ahead and say: you don’t need it, the smoked flavor of the gouda fulfills any pork belly needs you might have.

This is, hands down, the best grilled cheese you’re going to find in the Philadelphia area, and you can quote me on that. Think you know of something better? Leave us a suggestion in the comments!

Royal Tavern
937 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Map)

With his latest cookbook, Burgers, Fries, and Shakes, Bobby Flay is trying to corner the mainstream market as the go-to authority on America’s favorite sandwich. Although not officially affiliated with the book, Food Network has also relaunched the Burgers section of their site, adding a comprehensive guide of what they found to be the best burgers in America named 50 States, 50 Burgers.

Displayed nicely on an interactive map, simply click a state to see a photo and read a description of the must-see burger. We’re extremely proud to find that Royal Tavern’s Angus Burger (reviewed here) is the top pick for Pennsylvania.

Check out the full map, burger recipes, videos and more over at Food Network.

The wait at night for a table in the dimly lit Royal Tavern may turn away many, but for those who do stick around, a wealth of sandwiches awaits them. Hailed as having one of the best burgers in Philadelphia by several publications over the past few years, I was ashamed that I hadn’t made it out to Bella Vista sooner.

The Angus Burger is mesmerizing on paper: bacon, caramelized onions, smoked gouda, pickled longhots and chile mayonnaise on a sesame seed brioche bun but it isn’t until it is delivered to your table that your jaw truly drops. The thick hand-formed Angus is small in diameter but makes up for it in girth, incredibly tender and flavorful. The sweet gouda is complimented by the smokiness of two enormous slices of bacon and the slightly muted spice of the blackened longhots greatly enhances the meat while not masking it. It is too often that I encounter burgers adorned with adventurous toppings that overpower and steal the spotlight from the beef. The bun from Baker Street Bread is bulbous and baked to perfection, just slightly toasted by the Royal staff. If I had to pick five of the top burgers in Philadelphia right now, I couldn’t tell you exactly where it ranks, but this would certainly be on there.

Although Royal’s burger has received all of the press, it truly isn’t their signature sandwich. Ask any carnivore who frequents the restaurant to suggest a must have item and they will most likely point you towards the Meatloaf Sandwich (I hear the vegan offerings are incredible too). The thick cut slab of slow baked, marinated meat tastes exactly how I’d imagine my mom’s would, but unfortunately she doesn’t cook. As with the burger, the sandwich is kicked up another notch, topped off with provolone, caramelized onions, bacon and porcini mushroom ketchup. Piled on a giant ciabatta roll, you might want to share this one with a friend.

Don’t make the same mistake as me and hold out on Royal Tavern. Get over there and let us know what you think in the comments!

Get your sandwich on:

Royal Tavern
937 East Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Map)